The Rainbow Sash is worn during the Sacred Liturgy as a symbol of self identification, and indicates that the wearer is a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Ally (LGBTA).The text goes on to say:
Pentecost is the Birthday of the Universal Church it is a time to celebrate our diversity as a people of faith with honesty. We welcome all who believe that all the member s of our Church can approach the sacred Eucharist with humility, and integrity.(Spelling and punctuation errors in the original.)
Participation does not require membership in the Rainbow Sash Movement or that you need to be of the Catholic faith. None Catholics are encouraged to join us in this celebration.
First of all, it should be understood clearly that this kind of protest does not by any means represent all homosexual Catholics. Many Catholics with a homosexual orientation would find this confrontation in the context of the Mass to be abhorrent. Many also would resist the idea of "self identification" as though a homosexual orientation defined who one is. They do not feel "alienated" from the Church which has shown compassion and sensitivity in her public teaching and in countless confessionals both in England and across the world.
There is also a failure to indicate that the invited non-Catholics should not in any circumstances ask to receive Holy Communion without specific permission according to the norms of One Bread One Body.
The Rainbow sash website has a link which doesn't work. To gain some idea of what the movement supports and is tied in with, see: Queering the Church.
Back in 2002, Cardinal George Pell gave a sensible and balanced explanation of why he refused Holy Communion to people involved in the Rainbow Sash protest.
22 comments:
As a liberal, as the brother of a gay man (who is a church musician), as a holder of progressive and often heretical theology, as a supporter of inclusiveness and the ordination of both women and homosexuals... I would just like to say to my Christian brothers and sisters involved with the rainbow sash movement:
You're not helping.
The Sacred Liturgy is not the place for us- any of us- to make ideological statements. If we (liberals) can hijack the Mass for our own ends, you can be sure they (conservatives, or whoever) can too. The ideological backlash to liturgical innovation should be a stern warning on the dangers of straying too far away from an orthodox mode of worship.
Further, turning your participation in the sacrifice of the Mass into an ideological statement (even a good and noble one, as I believe yours is) will only further anger and alienate those from whom you most need understanding.
Protests and statements are exciting and glamorous; the feeling of accomplishment and righteousness in such an act of "solidarity" is tempting- even seductive. But the accomplishment of your goals- acceptance, love, unity, understanding- will rely on on unrewarding, unglamorous work: building real, loving relationships with those who disagree with you; deepening your own understanding of God through the spiritual disciplines; involving yourself in the life of the Church; separating yourself from secularism and modernity so that you have more in common with your Christian "opponents" than with your atheist friends; affording to traditionalists and conservatives the same love, respect, and open-mindedness that you expect from them; submitting your will, your agenda, your timeline, and indeed your life to God who makes all things possible.
Knowing how Westminster diocese handles dissenters with kid-gloves, I won't be surprised to see the Blessed Sacrament exposed to this outrage and administered to people publically living in sin.
Fortunately I usually attend the vigil Mass on Saturday...
I wonder what they are "protesting" about? The utter absurdity of Christ's sacrifice and love for us? Our utter unworthiness even to be present at this memorial? The compassionate teaching of Holy Mother Church? The volcanic eruption in Iceland? That Fulham were knocked out of something...?
Levity aside- what exactly is their point? Do they fondly imagine that persons who have homosexual inclinations are the only ones who are "humbly" asked to bear a cross? They should perhaps examine what it is they intend in their use of the word "humility".(Heaven forfend that they should jump on the "Orthodox-Catholicism-is-the source-of-all-evil bandwagon".) I'm sure that they would be the last to want to cause distress to members of the congregation and the holy priests. Oh, and maybe they might consider growing up as well.
may the Lord have mercy upon their souls
The rainbow sash link works for me when I did a Yahoo serch for it.
These sheningans are being defended on the grounds that one can't assume that anyone wearing a sash rejects Catholic teaching. This is of course nonsense because if you go to the website it's full of vaguely-worded stuff about diversity, unsubstantiated charges of homophobia, a link to a women's ordination site, and most importantly, nothing indicating that they affirm the Church's teaching that homosexual acts are acts are intrinsicly disordered and cannot be approved under any circumstances.
So sad.
Sincere thanks for raising awareness of this, Father. It is always a delicate editorial decision, in such cases, as to whether to deny protests of this sort the oxygen of publicity or to forewarn people.
On balance you have done the right thing. These protests are going to happen regardless and I would go as far to say that all Catholic cathedrals in the UK should be vigilant this Sunday on a "just in case" basis. This is the "facebook age": campaigns can be planned quite easily "under the radar".
At the very least the proper responses to such protests should be prepared by Cathedral teams.
For there is a tendency to think that the Rainbow Sashists (Sascists, more like) are active only in the US. Not so.
As the following press release makes quite clear, there are plans this weekend to co-ordinate these protests (the epitome of passive-aggressiveness) in the US and "internationally". We would all do well to be on prayerful alert.
http://www.rainbowsashmovement.com/Articles/Pentecost_PR.html
Dear Adam, thank you for your sincere, helpful, and constructive comment. I will remember you and your brothers and sister at Mass tomorrow.
romishgraffiti - it was the "queering the church" link that didn't work. That's why I put it in.
"God said, 'Here is the sign of the Covenant I make between myself and you and every living creature with you for all generations: I set my rainbow in the clouds and it shall be a sign of the Covenant between me and the earth."(Genesis 9:12-13)
Have LGBTA hijacked the symbol of God's everlasting Covenant with mankind?
In the art class at Addey & Stanhope Grammar School we were taught the common mnemonic device "Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain" to remember the "classic" named colours of the rainbow (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet). In Chistian Art, green the colour at the centre of the rainbow is often used to symbolise the presence of the Holy Spirit.
I'm praying for a green Pentecost
Here in Portugal, the weeek after an apostolic visit of four days, our president approves gay marriage, last Tuesday...
Adam, I started out by sharing your view that the Sash movement is not helping: the idea of introducing protest to the Mass is immediately offensive. The problem is, when the church makes no provision for people to speak up within approved structures on matters of vital importance, what else are gay Catholics to do?
Here in Portugal, the weeek after an apostolic visit of four days, our president approves gay marriage, last Tuesday...
Didn't Our Lady say that the dogma of faith would be preserved in Portugal? But as the Vatican keeps saying, "The Third Secret is has been revealed. Nothing to worry about. Keep moving along..."
And the earth is flat...
Father, my sincere apologies that this has no bearing on your post, but it is important as it relates to John Smeaton's (SPUC)recent post in which he reveals that the Marie Stopes organisation has arranged for abortion adverts to appear on TV Channel 4 on Monday 24th May at 10.10p.m. and throughout June. If anyone wants to object to this, the new Sec of State for Culture, Media, etc is the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, the email address for him is ---
enquiries@culture.gsi.gov.uk
I wonder if you could mention this in a short post- a few urgent emails to Jeremy Hunt might do some good. I have sent one myself, which is why I quote the email address because it is currently not available on the usual Govt website - as everything is being updated. I had to phone the House of Commons to obtain the address that I used - the one quoted.
Thank you. Brian Crowe PS This comment is not intended to be published, but rather to bring this matter to your attention for any action you might think appropriate.
A priest is usually bound to administer Holy Communion to all who come to the Altar even if he personally knows that they are in a State of Sin. However as the Rainbow Sash is a definitive sign of living in a State of sign and everyone knows it, then the priest concerned should refuse Communion anyway. Is this correct ?
"Pentecost is the Birthday of the Universal Church it is a time to celebrate our diversity as a people of faith with honesty. We welcome all who believe that all the member s of our Church can approach the sacred Eucharist with humility, and integrity".
It seems that the Rainbowfolk have learned their drafting skills from 'Garden of Eden Institute of Spin and Lies, proprietor Mr S Serpent'
This on the day that Marie Stopes International has announced that they will begin advertising on Channel 4 on 24th May...
umblepie - -thanks. Yes I will post something on that.
Terrence-
My last paragraph is what I think we should be doing.
I understand the frustration, but do you honestly think protests like this are helpful? Look at the other comments here. That is the effect of actions like this- more alienation, more ridicule, more ammunition, more proof that homosexuals (or supporters of women's ordination or whatever) really don't respect sacraments or the Church.
The problem is, when the church makes no provision for people to speak up within approved structures on matters of vital importance, what else are gay Catholics to do?
I don't think it is that hard to arrange a meeting with the bishop. Frankly, what "matters of vital importance" does the Rainbow Sash movement have that isn't "Ordain women and recognize homosexual acts and unions as legitimate"? Things that aren't on the table for negotiation.
As 'Vesper', a poor green man from Deptford Church Street, I recorded a CD titled 'Songs & Dreams for Sad Sister Deptford' in the Art Room at Deptford Reach.
Two of the songs from my CD are truly SOS Rainbow 999 symbolism without the sash!
Songs And Dreams For Sad Sister Deptford Part 4
Doveys Folk Promise
Jesus Christ your words are heard.
The empty hearths ignite.
Peace is born to man again.
Ahriman's last fight.
Rainbow visions do I see.
Dante's dream afire.
Seven candles burning bright.
The ending of the liar.
Light returns to illumine us.
Darkness fades away.
The dove of heaven returns again.
And joy has come to stay.
Ending of a phase.
Life begins anew.
All together as God's plan.
The prophets words are true.
Songs And Dreams For Sad Sister Deptford : Part 5
A SINNER'S DREAM OF MARY
When I was out a wandering upon the hills so green.
I spied myself a vision of a bright celestial Queen.
(Refrain)
A rosary,a rosary with rainbows all around.
A blood red cross she gave to me upon that hallowed ground.
She wore a crown of silver and in her arms she bore.
A child who was the future of mans peace and not of war.
(Refrain)
A rosary,a rosary with rainbows all around.
A blood red cross she gave to me upon that hallowed ground.
Corpus Christi woman was the lady that I saw.
Build inside she said to me mans inner self once more.
(Refrain)
A rosary,a rosary with rainbows all around.
A blood red cross she gave to me upon that hallowed ground.
Father,
Any news about how the planned "uncivil disobedience" was executed?
--Guy
The blog 'A Reluctant Sinner' gives us a good update.
I came across the UK Rainbow Sash Movement web site and can't believe their attack on the Church.
http://welcomehome0525.wordpress.com/
Tom
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